Climate change is upon us. We have seen this throughout Northwest Ohio, in ways that are sometimes dramatic (flooding in Findlay) and sometimes more mundane (as our children pine for the snowy sledding days that seem to dwindle each year).

While evidence suggests that rapid climate change is happening, and that humans are its primary cause, many questions remain for us to consider:

• What is the extent of climate change? What are the most reasonable predictions for the future? How have researchers arrived at these predictions?
• What human actions contribute the most to climate change?
• How does the global economy affect the environment? Does increased wealth lead to greater environmental stewardship, or greater consumption of resources?
• What effects will climate change have on our world? Our country? Our region?
• What can we do to combat climate change and other pressing environmental problems?

The 2007-08 GEP Speaker Series, Community Book Club, and curricular initiatives work to answer these questions for our students, faculty, parents, friends, and others in the Toledo community.  Our particular aim this year is both to inform and empower those who take part in our programs.